• ECP will use this amount for elections in Punjab and KP.
• ECP has decided to send a new estimate of election expenses.
• Expenses on general elections increased by more than Rs 10 billion.

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has provided Rs18 billion to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the upcoming general elections in the country.

The ECP has asked for Rs18 billion for pre-election preparations as the commission is facing difficulties in preparing for the elections.

Sources said that the ECP will use this amount for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

The Election Commission has decided to send a new estimate of election expenses.

Sources said due to separate elections in two assemblies, expenses on general elections increased by more than Rs 10 billion.

The Election Commission had previously sent an estimate of Rs 47 billion for the general elections. However, due to separate elections in two assemblies, the total expenditure will now be more than Rs 57 billion.

The ECP has sought Rs57 billion from the government for the next general elections. Of this amount, Rs27 billion will be received in the current financial year.

The commission will receive the remaining Rs20 billion in the next fiscal year.

It is pertinent to mention here that overall expenditures of the 2018 general polls were Rs31 billion.

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